Apparatus for playing duplicate whist



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- O. E. PARKS.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING DUPLICATE WHIST. No. 516,224.

Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

DDEIDDIJIJEIUIJUUD'.

J uunuuunnuuuuu uuunnuuuuuuun in mu uuuuuuuumuuuu n uuununnuuuuflu n u u u k u 6 u u nu u W/ U u u. n u u u 7 1" u u n n. H an".

uuumunnuuuuuu DEIDDDDDDIQIUDEIEI unnunu'mz luuu-uu unnuuuuumundu WASHINGTON. n c.

No Model.)-

0. E. PARKS.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING DUPLICATE WHIST.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 516,224. Patented Ma.1*. 13, 1894,

Z w Q 5 N Q\\\\\\\\U Q m 5 a; 5

Er 8L: E9: 11-; g f: E E

(No Model.) 4 sheets sheet- 3;,

0. E. PARKS.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYINGADUPLIGATE WHIST.. I No. 516,224.. Patented Mar. 1 3, 1894-.

- o W 55555 f M5 727 ZQ2% 41; vi/

" momma. A 4Sheets-Sheet4.

. G.E.PARKS.. APPARATUS FOR PLAYING DUPLIGA'IE WHIST. No, 516,224. Patented Mar. 13,1894. .i

I W @a/ 'y w UNITED- STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES E. PARKS,-OF SOMERVILLE,.MASSAOH'U'SETTS.

APPARATUS'FOR PLAYING DUPLICATE WHIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,224, dated March 13, 1894.

Application filed June 26, 1893. Serial lilo-478,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. PARKS, of Somerville, county of Middlesex,-State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in ing like parts. 7

This invention has for its object to construct an apparatus by which the game commonly called duplicate whist, may be played.

The invention consists essentially of a table having four openings, preferably at or near the center, back of or beneath which, the cards are displayed, they being rigidly secured to levers suitably supported and provided with finger pieces or tips which are adapted to be pressed upon by the fingers to thereby move the levers and display the cards. The levers are arranged in four separate groups, one for each player and hence four separate independent banks of finger pieces or tips are provided, properly shielded from each other. The finger pieces or tips are properly marked to indicate the cards so that the selection may be easily made.

In playing the game with the apparatus embodying this invention, each player maybe given a slip of paper upon which are printed thirteen different cards or indications thereof, which represent the hand he has to play, and in playing the hand he depresses the finger pieces or tips in accordance with the slip which is given to him just as he would ordinarily play his cards. These slips are thereafter changed, being given to different partners, so that each two players will have an opportunity to display their skill Witheach particular slip or pair of slips.

Figure 1, shows in plan view a duplicate whist card table embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of a portion of the same taken on the dotted line wa:; Fig. 3,a plan view of a portion of the apparatus inclosed by the dotted line y-y, the cover or.

top of the table being removed to expose the parts within Fig. 4, a detail showing the supports for the card carrying levers, and Fig. 5, a detail of one of the finger pieces.

The top A of the table may be supported by legs or otherwise in any usual or suitable way, and has four openings (1, herein shown as arranged at or near the center, yet they may be otherwise disposed if desired.

' Beneath the table A, four groups'or sets of card-carrying levers are supported, one group or set for each opening a, and each group or set of card-carrying levers are provided with independent means for operating them which are accessible to the players sitting at the different sides of the table.

The several groups or sets of card-carrying levers, as well as the means of operating them,

are the same or substantially so, and hence in Figs. 2,3 and 4, but one group or set is represented.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the card-carrying levers are represented at b, and pivoted tothe lower inturned ends of vertical bars I), which are secured at their upper ends to the table. Instead, however, of this particular form of support for the pivoted levers b, any other desirable form may be employed. The bars I), are i made of different lengths, as shown in Fig. 4. The levers b, are made of different lengths as best shown in Fig. 2, and are bent at right angles, so as to bring the outer ends thereof in line with or opposite the display opening represented by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and at said outer end of each lever, a card b is secured. There are herein represented fifty two levers 12 carrying thereby a full pack of cards.- Each .lever 19, is connected with a horizontal operating lever 0, arranged beneathit, by means of a link 0', said levers 0 being pivoted to suitable stands or supports, and having connected therewith at their front ends, vertical rods or posts 0 which extend upwardly through the table A, and bear upon their upper ends finger tips, pieces, or caps 0 By depressing one of the finger pieces or tips 0 the cardcarrying lever 12, connected therewith, will be thrown up, displaying the card carried by it at the opening at. These finger pieces or tips are herein shown as mounted frictionally upon the upper ends of said rods 0 so that they may be turned, and two opposite faces of said finger tips bear fac-similes or indications of the particular card borneby its card-carrying lever while the other two sides or faces are blank. But the finger pieces may be differently constructed and yet come within the spirit and scope of the invention. The bank ICC of finger pieces a is inclosed by a vertical partition wall cl, thereby shielding it from the other players. Each player at the beginning of the game is given a slip whereon is marked or indicated the hand he is to play. He then turns the finger pieces or tips of the particular cards indicated upon the slip in such ways that the indications marked thereon will appear before him, the blank sides or faces of all the remaining finger pieces or tips appearing before him at such time. Each player having followed the same directions, the game commences, and each player will depress the particular finger pieces or tips desired just as he would ordinarily play his hand, holding the finger piece or tip during the time the remaining parties are playing.

I do not desire to limit my invention toany particular construction or arrangement for operating the card-carrying levers, or any particular construction or arrangement for displaying said cards at the display openings independently at the will of the operator.

I claim- 1. An apparatus for playing whist consisting of a table having fou r independent groups of card-carrying levers, each lever being independently operated to display the card borne by it, substantially as described.

2. The table A, having four openings at or near the center, combined with four independent groups of card-carrying levers, each lever being operated independently at the will of the player, substantially as described.

3. The table having four display openings, combined with four independent groups of card-carrying levers, cards borne thereby, supports for said levers, operating bars there for, and finger pieces or tips connected by posts with said operating bars, substantially as described.

4. A table having four openings at or near the center, combined with four independent groups of card-carrying levers borne thereby, finger tips or pieces connected with said cardcarrying levers, and a shield for each bank of finger pieces or tips, substantially as described.

5. The table having several openings for the display of cards, combined with several groups of card-carryinglevers, means for moving them independently, and cards secured to said card-carrying levers, substantially as described.

6. A table having several openings for displaying cards, combined with several groups of card-carrying levers, means for moving them independentlyand marked finger pieces or tips, and cards secured to said card-carrying levers, substantially as described.

7. A table having several openings for dis playing cards, combined with several groups of card-carrying levers, means for moving them independently, and marked fingerpieces or tips made reversible upon their supports, and cards secured to said card-carrying levers, substantially as described.

8. A table having several openings for displaying cards, combined with several groups of pivoted card-carrying levers, pivoted operating levers therefor connected therewith by links, and vertical posts bearing finger pieces or tips connected to said operating bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. PARKS.

\Vitnesses:

BERNIOE J. Novas, EVA S. RoUNDs. 

